VICTORIA 5 MEDICINE HAT 3
Logan Nelson scored three goals and Brandon Fushimi recorded the first of his young Western Hockey League career as the Victoria Royals snapped a six-game losing streak with a 5-3 win in Medicine Hat on Saturday.
Two of Nelson's goals came on breakaways and Jamie Crooks also scored for the Royals, who were without 19-year-olds Jesse Zgraggen, Tim Traber and Ben Walker in their lineup.
"It was a real nice win," said Royals head coach Dave Lowry. "It was probably one of our most complete hockey games of the year. The guys put pucks into the right areas and they were skating."
Elgin Pearce and Miles Koules replied with power-play goals for the Tigers who were on a two-game win streak. Hunter Shinkaruk cut Victoria's lead to 4-3 with just under seven minutes to go in the third before Nelson bagged his hat-trick goal on a power play with 3: 37 to play.
"Nelly had a great night," added Lowry, who was also delighted to see Fushimi get on the scoreboard. "That's a big goal for him."
Curtis Valk extended his point streak to 12 games with a pair of assists for Medicine Hat, but Victoria's Steven Hodges had his six-game run snapped as he took an elbow in the second period and did not finish the game.
Patrik Polivka made 29 saves to earn the win in goal for the Royals, while Tigers goaltender Cam Lanigan - with the second-best goals against average and save percentage in the WHL - suffered the loss.
The Royals - who even their record to 10-10-0-0 - finally return home to Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday as the Everett Silvertips pay Victoria a visit. It will mark 23 days between home games for Lowry's club.
"This will make the trip home a lot better," said Lowry.
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